Friedrichshafen, Germany – Cascade Designs, Inc., the Seattle-based industry leader in the design and manufacture of premier outdoor equipment, has won a GOLD OutDoor INDUSTRY AWARD for its Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm four-season mattress at the 2011 European OutDoor Trade Fair. The only mattress to receive a GOLD award, the NeoAir XTherm mattress has been recognized for its warmth, light weight, degree of innovation, design quality, choice of materials, functionality and trendsetting character.

The sixth annual OutDoor INDUSTRY product design competition considered 301 product submissions from 23 countries. An international jury of design experts selected award winners in recognition of outstanding new products and to offer consumers purchasing guidance.

“This Therm-a-Rest mattress is ultra-effective,” said the jury. “…it is also extremely lightweight and beautifully designed at the same time. A product development that is moving in new directions. Absolutely perfect!”

The four-season NeoAir XTherm mattress is one of three new Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mattress models for 2012, joining the existing NeoAir All Season and NeoAir Trekker mattresses in the line. The original NeoAir mattress was introduced in 2009, featuring a cutting-edge design combination of technology, design and materials, upon which all other NeoAir mattresses are based.

Warmer and almost 15% lighter than the original NeoAir mattress, the NeoAir XLite mattress is also new for 2012. A tapered shape saves weight, while the patent-pending NeoAir Reflective Barrier and Triangular Core Matrix technologies provide the unique combination of warmth, comfort and stability the NeoAir mattress is known for. A women’s-specific model uses an additional Reflective Barrier for greater warmth and features a subtle tone-on-tone fabric print design.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mattresses are manufactured in the company’s Seattle, U.S.A. and Cork, Ireland facilities. The award-winning NeoAir XTherm mattress, along with the new NeoAir XLite mattress and NeoAir Women’s XLite mattress will be available in stores January 2012.